June 23 — On the Confession of our Sins

Consider, first, that God always expected from sinners an humble confession of their sins. This he prescribed in the old law, (Numb. v. 6, 7;) — When a many or womany shall com mit any sin that men commit y to do a trespass against the Lardy and that person he guilty y then they shall confess their sin which they have danCy &c. This he ordained in the new law, by the very institution of the sacrament of penance, which necessarily includes, or presupposes, confession. This was signified by the ordinance of the law, (Levit. xiii. and xiv.,) prescribing, that such as were infected with the leprosy, which was a figure of sin, should show themselves to the priests, and be under their inspection and direction. This was practised by the people who came to St. John the Baptist, (St. Matt. iii. 6,) and by the primitive Christians, disciples of the apostles, (Acts xix. 18, and St. James V. 16.) This was always insisted upon in the church of God. And surely nothing could be more just, than that the sinner should submit to this little humiliation, as some small atonement for the pride and presumption, by which he has rebelled against his God.

Consider, secondly, the many advantages the soul receives from the Catholic practice of humbly confessing our sins to the ministers of Christ, whom he has tied up by all laws to a perpetual and indispensable secrecy. It procures us proper medicines and prescriptions for all our spiritual maladies, which we here lay open to the Physician of the soul; it furnishes us with counsel in our doubts, comfort in our sorrows, and remedies against temptations; it gives present ease to the wounded conscience; it rectifies our errors, enlightens our ignorance, restrains our passions; it gives new strength of resolution, and courage to do better for the time to come; and, what is one of its greatest advantages, it humbles the soul, and teaches us to know and to despise ourselves. O, what blessings are entailed upon this sacred institution of confession! O, how much do these out-balance the momentary confusion, that may accompany the declaration of our sins.

Consider, thirdly, that the principal advantage of an humble and sorrowful confession of our sins is, that it is the means of divine appointment, for obtaining the absolution and remission of all our transgressions, and reinstating us in God’s favor and grace; and this by virtue of the commission given by Jesus Christ to his ministers, with a solemn asseveration, that whatso ever they should hind upon earthy should he hound also in hear en; and that whatsoever they should loose upon earthy should he loosed also in heaven, St. Matt, xviii. 18. O, how happy would that criminal account himself, who should be allowed to escape the hands of human justice, by a sorrowful acknowledgment of all his crimes in secret to his judge, or to one appointed by his judge! But O, how much more happy is the penitent Christian, when, by an humble confession of all his sins, witha sincere repentance, to the minister of Jesus Christ, he is assured of being delivered, not out of the hands of men, that can only kill the body, and then can do no more, but out of the hands of the living God, who otherwise will cast both body and soul into hell; and not only of being delivered out of the hands of divine justice, but of being received into the arms of his loving kindness, and made once more a friend and a child of God, and an heir of hia eternal kingdom.

Conclude by giving thanks to the divine bounty, for having ordained for us this easy means of reconciliation after sin, and annexed so many graces and blessings to it. But beware of abusing this most wholesome and sacred institution, by making it an occasion of sinning more freely; or by using it only as a thing of course, or as an empty ceremony, without any true change of heart.